System for monitoring, controlling, analyzing performance and/or tracing malfunctions in WLANs

A system for monitoring, controlling, analyzing performance and tracing malfunctions in standard radio networks using the recording of the data exchange of a minimum number of channels available in each radio network, wherein at least one of the channel utilization and the number of channel changes and the number of clients and the number of packet retransmissions is analyzed relative to the data exchange,

• characterized in that
• the system is formed as a mobile, portable unit comprising a plurality of radio frequency receivers covering all available radio channels or the channels identified by the system as relevant,
• the mobile, portable unit further comprises at least one adapter, which prepares the data and data packets recorded by the radio frequency receivers and transfers them in the form of traffic data to a mass memory of an integrated computer or processor,
• the recorded, stored traffic data undergoes a statistical analysis according to predefinable characteristic values and the results of the analysis are filed with a high temporal resolution in an intrasystem database, wherein when anomalies are detected, the data communication or the traffic data around the time of the anomaly is retrieved and made available for further analysis,
• wherein said system may be operated in a dynamic, static or control mode, wherein
• in the dynamic mode, a WLAN adapter scans the air interface and checks when and which changes have been made in the employed channels, so as to adapt the channel selection and the setting thereof;
• in the static mode, in principle, all of the channels present in the radio network to be controlled are recorded;
• and
• in the control mode, the recording of the traffic is realized on the basis of a predefined list of access point or clients along with their prioritization;
• and
• wherein, for all or selected clients, errors or traps derived from empirical values are logged, which include, for instance, the interruption of the communication, roaming, repeated roaming within a predefined interval of time, unsuccessful roaming as well as anomalies in transferring a defined test traffic.